Wood-wind instrument



March 13; 1928. 1,662,195

A. LOOM IS woo'n WIND INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 2, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 13, 1928. 1,662,195

- A. LOOMIS WOOD WIND TNSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 2, 1925 5 Sheets-Shet March 13, 1928. 1,662,195

A. LOOMIS WOOD WIND INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 2, 1 925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 13, 1928.

1,662,195 A. LOOMIS WOOD WIND INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 2, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 m 9 m a \o m M 450 cuxg March 13, 1928. 1,662,195

A. LOOMIS WOOD WIND INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 2, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALLEN LOOMIS, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

WOOD-WIND INSTRUMENT.

Application filed November 2, 1925.

This invention relates to key mechanisms for wood wind instruments of the type embodying a floating lever which is controlled by the action of a plurality of members to operate a stopper. It is based on my prior Patent No. 1,336,859 dated April 6, 1920, and embodies extensions and developments of the principles explained in said prior patent in the direction of greater simplicity and a more quiet action. Certain definite improvements over the previously disclosed invention consist in the fact that the pivots of the floating lever and of the carrying piece are parallel, or substantially so, that is, are not at large angles to one another, from which it follows that the number of springs necessary to operate the mechanism is re duced and that these mechanisms operate more quietly.

One of my principal objects is to make the motions determinate. \Vith the floating lever constructions disclosed in said patent ach operating member had suflicicnt action on the floating. lever to lift the key (hole stopper or cover) to the desired height; but when both operating members simultaneously acted upon the floating lever to lift the key, it either resulted in lifting it twice the required height from the hole, or else, it a separate stop were applied to limit its lift, the backlash at the ends of the floating lever was indeterminate. lVith the new construction the floating lever presses constantly upon one of the operating members and the backlash all occurs at the other end of the floating lever. This constant pressure upon one 01 the operating members makes it possible to eliminate the special retracting spring formerly provided for that member. The keys or tone hole covers to which I have applied the present invention are convcn iently placed on one side of the instrument instead of on top and this enables the plates for the fingers (finger keys) to work close to the body of the instrument instead of be ing raised high above it as on the earlier construction.

Other objects are to obtain full resonance forall notes, and to secure further advantage and new results as set forth in the following specification.

The herein illustrated embodiment of the new invention is a plied to a saxophone. its use enables the saxophone to be comprehensively redesigned so that every note has full resonance even when played without the Serial No. 66,186.

use of special side keys. By full resonance is meant conformation to the law discovered by Theobald Boehm of Munich about the year 1831 and reported by him in his treatise of 1847.

Although shown as applied to the saxophone, this fact is not in any sense a limitat on of my invention, because the principles, either with or without modification in detail, may be applied to all wood wind instruments, including within the definition of wood wind instruments all those which have lateral holes for determining the pitch of the tone emitted and for other purposes, whether actually made of wood or of other materials, such as silver flutes and brass Saxophones.

In the drawings furnished herewith;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a saxophone seen as held upright and having the invention applied in six different places, said figare showing all oi. the instrument except the mouth tube;

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the mouth tube;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing in a combined plan'and elevation, resolved into one plane, much of the mechanism on the body tube as lies between the lines AA and BBot Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the lever for closing the F natural hole, which is an element of one of the mechanisms embodying this particular invention;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the floating lever mechanism controlling the B fiat hole (the parts included within the bracket 4 of Fig. 1., as seen from the left of said figure) Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the principles of these and other floating lever mechamsms;

Fig. 6 is an oblique projectionof a portion of the main body showing another of the mechanisms embodying this invention, embraced in the bracket 6 in Figure 1.

7 is a longitudinal section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 to 19 inclusive, are cross sections on the lines 88 to 1919 inclusive, respectively of Fig. 1 looking in the direction in which the taper of the body tube increases. The locations of these section lines are also indicated in Figures 2 and 6.

Fig. 20 is a section on the same plane as Fig. 19, but looking in the opposite direction.

is an elevation of the parts super:

posed on the mechanism shown in Fig. 6; showing also some of the same parts which are visible in Fig. 6.

22 is a cross section on the line 2222 at Fig. 21.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

In the following detailed description the application of this invcntion to a saxophone, as illustrated in these drawings, will be explained; with identification of tone holes and linger keys, by the pitches controlled by such tone holes, and by the digits of the performer by which the respective finger keys are manipulated, in this specific instrument; it being understood, however, that such specific designation is for convenience and illustration, and not for limitation; and it being further understood that the principles (it the invention may be applied in other forms and arrangements to the same instrument, and in the same and other forms to different instruments, all within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

In describing generally the instrument, designates the main body, as the mouth tube, 27 the bell and 28 the bowl, these names being those which are commonly applied in the art with reference to the parts of the saxophone. Mechanisms ei'nbodying the characteristics of my invention are applied to this instrument in the following places; First, for controlling the octave holes on the mouth tube and on the body adjacent to the mouth tube, as described in a prior application filed by me February 19, 1923, Serial No. 617,952; and second, .tor controlling the cover or stopper ot the B tlat hole; third, for controlling the stopper of the G sharp hole; tourth, for controlling the stopper for the F natural hole; lift-h, for controlling the lower D sharp hole, and sixth for controlling the lower C sharp hole.

I will first describe the n'icchanism controlling the i natural hole which is particularly illustratedin 2, 8 and 11 to 20 inclusive. llhis mechanism comprises a stopper 29 which covers the tone hole, two finger pieces 30 and 31 adapted to be manipulated by the first and second fingers of the performers right hand, wherefore they are also designated i and 2, respectively, and a floating lever mechanism. The finger piece 30 is fixed with relation to an arm 32, being in the first instance mounted on the cover 33 of the F sharp hole, which latter is connected by means of an arm 3a with a sleeve 35 to which the arm 82 is made fast. Sleeve 35 turns about. a pivot rod which con stitutes the main axis of this mechanism. Arm 32 is ofiset and its extremity lies under one end of a floating lever 36. The floating lever is pivoted at 37 to a carrier 88 which,

in this instance, is a lever to which the stopper 29 is secured. Said carrier 38 is pivotally mounted on a rod 39 which is secured in posts 40 and 411; said carrier also includes a bar 42, parallel to lever 38, which is secured to the hub of the carrier and strengthens the support tor a sleeve in which the pivot rod 37 olthe floating lever has its bearing. lhe floating lever otlset around the bar 42 and the pillar ll, and terminates in arms at and 45, of which the former overlies the arm the latter overlies the extremity of an offset arm 4:6, which is substantially like the arm and is connected through the medium of a sleeve 4.7 and arm l8 with the linger piece 31. In the further description of this mechanism the arms and 4:6 will be referred to as litters, since their function is to raise the arms of the floating lever under which they respectively extend. The terms depress or lower, or words of similar importwhen applied to the key mechanisms, their movements and the "forces applied to them, mean pressure or motion directed toward the instrument body, regardless of the relation of such directions to the horizontal; and the terms raise, lift, and terms oi similar import signify motion or exertion of force in a direction away from the body.

A leaf spring 49 is secured at one end by a screw 50 to the under side of the carrier 38 and the free end of said. spring bears against a pin 51 which is a part of the floating lever. The pin 51 I will call for convenience of description the reaction pin because it reacts against the spring. The bar 52, which appears in Figures 2 and 3. is a structural part of the floating lever provided for holding a cheek-piece which supports one end of the reaction pin and also one end of the pivot 37.

The recapitulate, the floating lever consists oi? the parts 36, ll, -l5, 52 and These parts constitute a rigid integral structure made from as many separate pieces, rigidly secured together, as may be needed; and the members il and 53 0t this structure provide separate supports of the opposite ends oi the reaction pin 51 and the pivot 37. The

floatinglever carrier is a rigid structure also, consisting oft-the lever or member 38 the bar 42, a hub which is secured to these members and surrounds the pivot 39, and the sleeve 4-3 which surrounds the pivot rod 3'? of the floating lever,

The spring 4-9 is one of the principal features of this invention. It alone exerts force tending to raisethe stopper-29 and also to raise the finger piece 31. The pressure of this spring on the reaction pin of the floating lever tends to depress the end or arm l5 of the floating lever, and the reaction of this pressure, exerted on the lifter l6, which normally bears on the body, holds the stopper 29 open so long as the other end or arm 14 of the floating lever is free. The end -15 of the floating lever presses constantly upon the end of the offset arm 16 and thus always tends to raise the linger piece 31.. The stopper 29 thus remains open, whether or not the finger piece 31 is depressed, so long as the two linger pieces 30 and 31 are not simultaneonsly depressed; the extent to which the stopper 29 opens being limited by contact of the stop 54 against the body of the instrumen If both linger keys are released there is no contact between the litter 32 and the end or arm 4 1 of the floating lever. If the finger piece only is depressed there is bare con tact at this point but no force exerted. But when both linger pieces are depressed at the same time, both litters 32 and 16 are raised and the floating lever works as a combining lever to lift the pivot 37 and turn the carrier 38 about the axis 39 and thereby close the stopper. Since the arm 1-4 of the floating lever does not exert a constant retracting force upon the litter 32 and thus lift the finger piece 30, a separate spring is required for this purpose. The hook for this spring is shown atin Figure 12, and the type of spring used for this purpose is the ordinary well known needle type of spring fixed at one end in an adjacent pillar.

This application of a single spring for the two purposes of raising a stopper, and of raising one of the linger pieces which govern the stopper, is of great importance prac tically in the direction of simplicity, and particularly of quiet operation. It enables the positions 01 the parts, and especially the floating lever, to be exactly determined, eliminates one spring, and makes possible the design of the proportions of the carrier arms to the length of the floating lever of such value as to make the reaction at the end 14 of the floating lever as lightas may be desired, thus avoiding any great change in the pressure on the finger piece 30 when thisend of the floating lever comes in contact with the lifter It is also desirable to have a like reaction at one end of the floating lever when this invention is used for producing the additional effect of the common articulated key of the prior art, as will be subsequently explained.

It will be noted that the pivotal axes or pivots 37 and 39 for the floating lever and the carrier are parallel to each other. This arrangement makes possible the utilization of one spring for the double purpose just described. Although this is the most convenient arrangement for the purpose, it is not absolutely essential and, therefore, I do not limit my claims for the double function spring to the parallelism of these axes,

The end. of arm 32 underlies an arm 81 on the sleeve 82 which carries the arm of the G natural stopper so that the latter stopper is closed whenever linger piece 30 (the key for the first linger of the right hand) is pressed upon; and the end of arm 16 underlies an arm 84rwhich is connected, though a bridge piece 85, with the sleeve 82, so that G natural is closed also when 31 (the key for the second finger of the right hand) is pressed on; and a linger key 331 (that for the third linger of the right hand), later referred to in connection with other mechanism, acts through a bridge rod 380 and overlapping clutch parts 90 and 91 (one on the rod 380 and the otheron bridge rod to the same eifect. Hence whenever any one of the main linger pieces for the right hand is depressed the G natural hole is closed, as is required in all Boehm instruments. 'hen F sharp is played by closing the G hole by key 31, the E and F holes next below remain open, giving resonance; but when 1* sharp is played by depressing the third linger of the right hand, as is com- 111011 with Boehm instruments, the E hole is closed (through the parts 3&8, 380, 379 and 378, later described), and therefore, in order to provide two open holes below the one emitting the tone, I provide a small duplicate hole 92 having a cover 93 carried by an arm 94: from a hinge rod 95. A spring 96 acting on a hook 9T normally holds this cover open. The cover 93 is closed simultaneously with cover 29, by a lug 98 on the side of the carrier lever 38 pressing on an arm 99 on rod 95.

Another mechanism containing the same principle is shown in Figures 1, i, and 5. The parts of this mechanism which correspond in function and operation to the parts of the mechanism just described are designated by reference numbers which, as to the last two digits, are the same as the numbers previously used, but are distin uished by a preceding digit 1, consists of the linger pieces 130 and 131, stopper 129 for the B flat tone hole and floating lever 136. The opposite arms li iand 1&5 of the floating lever overlie arms or litters 132 and 1&6 which are connected to the *er pieces 139 and 131 respectively. The floating lever is pivotally mounted at 137 on the carrier which is pivoted on a rod 139 supported from the body of theiinstrument in the usual way and consists oi" the arm 138, to which the hole stopper is secured, and a second arm 142 secured to the edge of the stopper and supported on the pivot 139, and serving as the perch for spring 1 29. The floating lever also carries a reaction pin 151 on which the spring 149 bears.

The principles of construction, operation and function o't this mechanism are essentially identical with those ot the mechanism previously cribcd. The spring 1 19 acts to raise both the stopper and the finger piece 131, the finger piece 130 being raised by an independent spring, and the riseof the stopper being limited by a stop 154:.

Depression of either finger piece alone has 1 no etlect upon the stopper, but depression of both simultaneously displaces the fulcrum of the floating lever and so closes the stopper. A valuable technical effect resulting from the compounding mechanism last described, is that C natural, when played by forked fingering, is-inade resonant by opening 0t all holes below the C natural hole; since with such lingering the B-tlat' hole would not be opened except by the action of this mechanism. 138 lies under an arm 181 which is connected with an arm 183 carrying the stopper for the B natural hole. This hole is closed there- 'forewhenever the key 131, or both 130 and 1.31 together are depressed. It may be closed also by a finger piece connected directly on arm 183, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 also illustrates diagrammatically the action andreaction of the forces on a typical floating lever key mechanism when the cover has been displacedby simultaneous action of the two lifters far enough to touch the rim of its hole, but without exerting pressure thereon. In this diagram, the line 0-4) represents the direction in which the force of the spring 1-19 is exerted on thereaction pin 151. This line is normal to the arc of the spring at its point of contact on the reaction pin and therefore passes through the center of such are. The line c-cZ represents the direction oftorce application on one litter, 132, and the line 6-) represents the direction of force application on the other lifter, 146. The line g'/ u is the line of the reaction of the carrier lever on its pivot 139. The directions of force application c-d, 6- and gh are parallel to one another.

The forces exerted by the lifters, the car rier lever pivot, and the spring, are all of the forces acting on the key mechanism; that is, they are the total of the forces necessary to its characteristic action, omitting consideration of the forces exerted by additional-springs provided for the control of other keys. There are many instances in the instrument of other springs for supplemental purposes, acting in conjunction with the characteristic spring of the floating lever mechanism, but these additional springs are left out of account in the present analysis. So also is the force of friction disregarded.

To find the direction of the line of reaction between the carrier lever and the floating lever, a line is drawn from the intersection point g of the lines 6+5 and g-h through the center of the pivot pin 137. To find the resultant of all the forces, a line is drawn from the point a, which is the intersection or the lines (Zr-b and e f, to the The tail end of the carrier memos point 2"," where the linetrom 9' through the pivot: 137: intersects the line a d. Connecting the points a and 2': establishes the line oi theifinal'resultant force.

The relative values of the torcesexerted by the respective lifters in placing the stop per in the position describedare foundby measuring oil on the line ab from the point 9 to the pointl a distance which is proportional to the force of the spring, and is laid off accordmgto scale; any arbitrary scale chosen for the purpose. From Z a line parallel to the lines 0 Z, g/fi and ef is laid on until it cuts the line g-i at m. A lines is drawn from 9 parallel to the line a2' and cutting the line mZ at n. The length of the line ml, on the force scale chosen, is

the force of the reaction of the carrier lever onits pivot; the distance n-Z is the force exerted by the litter 146 on the line c-f; and the distance m% is the forceexerted by the litter 1352 along the line od.

The mechanism for controlling the G- sharp tone hole cover embodies the same principle with this variation, that the depression of one finger key, combined with the action ofa spring, operates to close the the last two digits are the same as previously used, butin this case theyare distinguished by the preliminary characteristic digit 2.

The finger piece 231 acts through a litter 246 to lift the end 245 of the floating lever, the opposite end 244 of which is normally held elevated by a spring which will pre sently be described. Thisfl'oating lever is essentially like the floating levers 36 and 136 already described and is pivoted in a sleeve 243 which is a structural part of the carrier 238 which carries the G-sharp tone hole stopper 229-. Said carrier is pivoted on a.

rod 239 between pillars 240 and'2 11 fixed to the body ofthe instrument and includes as part of its structure a sleeve surrounding said pivot rod and a bar 242 fixed to said sleeve and stitlening the action of the sleeve 243 in which the floating lever pivot has its hearing. A flat spring 249, secured to the under side of the carrier, presses against a reaction pin 251 on the floating lever'withtendency bothtoraise the stop per and to depressthe arm 245033 the floating lever. The stop which limits the rise of the cover is a cam260 which is worked by other keyswhich will be later described.

The mechanism through which depression of finger piece 231 acts to elevate the end 245 of the floating lever consists ofthe following. This finger pieceis carried by an arm 248 which turns about a rod 261 as an axis and overlies and bears on a cam 262 which is formed at the end of a bent arm 263 secured to a sleeve 264 rotatably mounted on the pivot 265 and to which is secured an arm 246 underlying the arm 245 of the floating lever.

The spring which normally raises the arm 244 of the floating lever is shown at 267, being a spring of the needle type mounted at one end in a pillar 268 and acting on a finger key 269 through a spring hook 270 which projects from a sleeve 271 rotatable about the same pivot 265, and to which the arm carrying the key 269 is secured. To the same key 269 is fastened a lug to which is secured a foot piece 272 which extends under the end 244 of the floating lever and is limited in its rise by a fixed stop 273 secured. to the body of the instrument. The upper end of the floating lever (that is, the end nearer to the mouth piece of the instrument) being thus held in the position necessary for closing the stopper, depression of the finger piece 231 alone is effective to close the stopper. Then, while the finger piece remains depressed, depression of the finger piece 269, by removing the support for the upper end of the floating lever, allows the spring 249 to open the stopper. The arm of key 269 is extended and secured to a bridge rod 274 which is also secured to and supported by an arm 275 pivoted on the axis 265. The projecting end of this bridge rod is flattened to form a cam against which a complemental cam on another bridge rod 276 bears, and the latter bridge rod is connected with a key 277 (see Figure 1) by which also the cover 229 may be actuated with the same effect as by depression of the key 269. This mechanism allows the G sharp hole to be normally opened, and this results in the higher note (A natural) being more resonant, and it also prevents water from accumulating on the stopper 229 oi that hole.

The finger piece 231 when depressed, also closes the A natural hole cover 278'by direct connection from arm 248 through a sleeve 279, rotating about the pivot rod 261. These parts are controlled by a spring of ordinary character tending to open said cover, whereby it results that the G sharp hole is opened, as is required for resonance, whenever A natural is played, key 231 being then released. The mechanism now being described is part of the means controlling the octave key mechanism, later described, acting through a bridge rod 280 which is connected to arm 248, and so is operable by key 231. Cam 260 is connected to a bridge rod 281 to which there is connected also a key 282 having a finger plate (shown in Fig.

2 but omitted from Fig. 1), by depression of whichthe G sharp hole may be closed to trill G to G sharp whenkey -269 is held down. This mechanism enables this trill to be played by the right forefinger; an easier manipulation than by the left little finger, which presses on key 269. Arms 283 and 284 project from bridge rod 281 beneath the key arms 48 and 248 respectively, so that, when G'sharp is played in the regular way, the resonant trill F sharp to G sharp may be obtained by vibrating either the second finger or the third finger of the right hand.

A substantially identical mechanism to that described is applied to the D sharp hole,

and is shown in Fig 1 and cross section 16 to 20. The parts of this mechanism corresponding tosimilar parts of other mechanisms are again designated by the same characteristic reference numbers, and distinguishcd from the others by the digit 3. The finger piece 331 when depressed raises the lower end of the floating lever through the medium of a cam lever 363 having a cam arm 362 on which bears an arm 348, (see Figs. 2 and 19) connected with the finger piece through the medium of a bridge rod 380 and a sleeve 379. This cam lever 363 has a l'oot 346 underlying the floating lever arm 345. The arm 344 of the floating lever is elevated by a spring of the needle type fixed in a pillar 368 and pressing on the spring hook 370 (Fig. 18) projecting from a sleeve 371 to which the finger piece 369 is secured. To the finger piece 369 is attached a foot piece 372 which underlies the floating lever arm 344, whereby the said needle spring normally raises the latter, the lift of which is limited by a stop yoke 373. The construction of the floating lever is substantially identical with that of the one last previously described and the. one first described, and

it is mounted pivotally on a carrier 338, which. is also the arm holding the D sharp hole cover 329. The flat spring 349 (Fig. 19) of the carrier bears on the reaction pin 351 of the floating lever. Depression ofthe finger piece 331 alone thus closes the stopper 329. The stopper after being thus closed, may be opened by depression of the finger piece 369. It may be opened also by depression of a finger piece 377 supported by an offset axle rod 385. Said axle rod carries an arm 386 projecting under an arm 374 on the key 369, whereby the latter key is depressed whenever 377 is depressed. The lift-of stopper 329 is limited by an arm 360, the under side of which is a cam and to which the D natural hole cover is secured.

The D natural hole cover is closed vby depression of a finger'piece 387, carried by an arm 388 secured to the same sleeve 389 to which the cam arm 360 is secured. A part of arm 388 is offset as shown best at 388 in Fi g. and passes under an overlying ill cam 490 which will be presently described in connection with another instance of floating lever mechanism.

The fifth floating lever mechanism, the one for the C sharp hole is designated by the same characteristic reference numerals, distinguished by the preliminary digit 4. It consists oi the two finger pieces 431 (Fig. 1)

. and 409 (Fig. 21) the stopper 429 and carrier 438, which is also the floating lever carrier. The floating lever is pivotally mounted at 443 on the carrier, which is pivoted between the pillars 440 and 441. The arm 445 of the floating lever 436 is underlaid by the arm 446 which is connected to the sleeve 447 on which the arm 448 of the finger piece 481 is secured. The spring 467, which normally elevates the arm 444 of the floating lever, is mounted in a pillar 468 and its ends extend in both directions from the pillar and engage two hooks 470 and 470 These hooks 470 and 470 project from a sleeve 471 to which is connected the arm 469 for the finger piece 469 and the arm 472 which applies the upward thrust of the spring 467 to the floating lever arm 444. The rise of this arm is limited by a stop 47 3 similar in term and mounting to the stop 27 3 which overhangs the end, oi arm 272. Thus depression of finger piece 431 causes the stopper 429 to be closed, and thereafter depression of finger piece 469 causes the stopper to be opened. The lift of stopper 429 is limited by a -toot 454 on the end of the bar 442 which forms part of the floating lever.

At the same time the depression of finger piece 431 also causes the stoppers 329 for the D sharp hole and that for the D natural hole to be closed through the incidence of cam 490 on its under side (previously mentioned) on the offset 388 of lever 388. In practice this eii'ect would be brought about only when all of the normal finger pieces and the finger piece 377 are pressed upon at the same time, enabling a minor third tremelo to be played on D sharp and C natural holes.

The octave key mechanism comprises two stoppers 500 and 501 covering vent holes in the mouth tube and in the main tube, respectively, of the instrument. which stoppers are controlled by a thumb-piece 502 and the finger piece 231. The stopper 500 is carried by a curved lever 503 p'votally mounted at- 504 on the mouth tube, and can rying also a ring 505 which surrounds the tube and is entered by an arm 508 made as an extension of the floating lever 536. -his floating lever is pivotally mounted on a carrier which consists oi a sleeve 53'? connected by two arms 538 and 539 with a fulcrum wearer the end of sleeve 537, and its lower end is bent away from such sleeve and is formed with a lug 542 which crosses the adjacent end of the sleeve. A pivot rod occupies the sleeve 537 and is secured at its ends in the floating lever. The thumb piece 502 is se cured to the fulcrum sleeve 540 and the other stopper 501 is mounted on a bent arm 544 secured to a sleeve 545. The arm 544 carries a pin 546 which occupies ,a guideway or notch in the forked end 54? oi the floating lever 530. Arm 544 also is provided with a ledge 548 arranged to receivc the pressure of an arm 549 secured to the bridge rod 280 previously described as being directly connected with the arm 248 of the linger piece 231.

A spring 550 mounted in a pillar 560 bears against a hook 561 on sleeve 540 and tends to swing the fulcrum part 537 of the carrier (which mounts the pivot of the floating lever) toward the body of the instrument. The stopper 501 is normally closed by the spring 249 on the floating carrier lever carrier 238, which tends to raise linger piece 231. To aid this spring I have applied also a needle spring, not shown in the drawings, but the hook 562 against which it presses being shown in Jig. ,9 applied to sleeve 279. A light spring 563 mounted on the lever 503, presses against the mouth tube to close the stopper 500 and to furnish an abutment for the end of arm 506 to react against when the finger pieces 502 and 231 are pressed upon. When the finger piece 502 alone is pressed on, the pivot 5 46 becomes the fulcdum for the floating lever and the arm 506 of the latter is moved outward so as to open stopper 500. If, while pressure continued on the finger piece 502, the finger piece 231 is also pressed upon, then the pin 540 is swung about the axis of sleeve 545, the pivot 542 of the floating lever becomes the fulcrum and said lever is moved so as to retract the arm 506 and allow the stopper 500 to close, the stopper 501 being at the same time permitted to open through the pressure exerted by spring This octave key is of the type known as automatic or double eii ect. It is more fully shown and described in my prior application, hereinbetore identified.

In passing from the lower register into the lower. part of the middle register, the stopper 501 must be open and the stopper 500 closed. The application of pressure to 502 while 231 is held down causes the stopper 501 to be opened and leaves the stopper 500 in its previously closed condition. W hen, in the course of playin an ascending passage, the performer reaches the point at which he releases the piece 231, which, in the instrument here illustrated, occurs when the A or any note above it is played, the stopper 501 must be closed and the stopper 500 opened.

This mechanism automatically accomplishes that result while pressure is maintained on the finger piece 502.

By virtue of the novel mechanism hereinbetore described, the instrument is provided with a complete open key system, as to all of the holes controlled by the normal finger keys, and excluding certain holes which are provided for special occasional use. At the same time the instrument is completely resonant for all notes; that is at least two holes next below the hole of the note being played are opened, or remain open, for each note of the instrument. This enables the instrument to be played in tune without the special lipping which is an accomplishment only of the expert performer. The peculiar octave key mechanism causes the cover for the upper octave hole, to be opened without that character of motion which is called jumping, and is a well recognized detectof prior instruments.

The invention avoids need of using articulated key mechanisms having parts operated by weak springs which'are seldom used. The rusting to which steel springs are sub ject is liable to make the weak springs here referred to unreliableand cause their failare to operate at inconvenient times. Those keys which according to this invention include floating levers, and are thus articulated, are free from this objection, due to their being operated by a single sprin In the case of one form of such mechanism, that here shown in connection with the G sharp tone hole, the pad or cover, is normally lifted off its seat, thus reducing the chances of sticking to it, and its mechanism put into action even when the particular note which it controls is not being played, thus preventing the mechanism from being found inoperative when wanted.

As the cover pads of all the normal holes are open, there isino opportunity for water to collect and remain on the pads, and thus cause the injury to which these parts are liable when exposed to water and held where. circulating air cannot have free access to them.

The instrument contains other features of practical value. One of these is that bridge rods and ressure bars have been provided in addition to the floating lever mechanism particularly described, in order to make the fingering correspond substantially with that of the conventional American built saxophone. As a complete instru ment the saxophone here shown retains the fingering of the standard instrument, but contains, in addition, means by which all of the notes are made resonant and by which certain sequences of passages may be played with ease and in tune, which are impossible or extremely difiicult, or cannot .be played rapidly in tune, or intune at all by any struments and other uses. Indeed, the combination of a carrier, a floating lever and a spring mounted upon one and acting upon the other with the effect of exerting pressure at two different points I have to'und is a new mechanical movement for which I desire protection in the broadest scope consistentwith its novelty.

Defining the mechanism as a mechanical movement, it consists of a pivoted carrier upon which is pivoted a lever on a different axis than its own axis and a single spring mounted upon one of said parts and acting on the other in such away as to tend to rotate the floating lever relatively to the car rier, the reaction of the lever against the base on which the whole mechanism is supported enabling the spring to place-and hold the parts in one position, and the application of pressure or removal of pressure from another part of the floating lever causing the spring to put the parts in a different position.

1. In a wood wind instrument a pivoted carrier, a lever pivoted to said carrier on a difierent ELXls'fIOID that of the carrier, a

single spring mounted upon one of said pivotedmembers and acting on the other in such a way as to tend to rotate the lever relatively to the carrier, said lever beingarranged to react on the body of the instrument, and means for applying pressure to another part of said'lever. v

2. In a wood wind instrument a tubular body having a lateral hole, a carrier lever pivotally supported from said body and hav ing a cover for said hole, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a difi'erent axis than that of the carrier lever, each of said levers having an arm adapted to react against the said body, and a single spring connected to one of said levers and reacting on the other tending to press the last named arms of both levers toward the body.

3.111 a wood wind instrument a tubular body having a lateral hole, a carrier lever pivotally supported from said body and having a cover for said hole, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a different axis than that of the carrier lever, each of said levers having an arm adapted to react against the said body. and a single spring connected to one-of said levers and reacting on the other tending to press the last named arms of both levers toward the body, said spring being arranged also to permit tilting of the floati-nglever to a different position than that above set forth Without shitting the carrier lever.

l. In a Wood Wind instrument a tubular body having a lateral hole, a carrier lever p ivotally supported "from said body and having a cover ror said hole, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a different axis than that of the carrier lever, each of saidv levers having an arm adapted to react against the said body, and a single spring connected to one of said levers and reacting on the other tending to press the last named arms of both levers toward the body, and means for applying pressure to different parts of sa d floating lever.

5. A mechanism comprising a pivoted carrier lever, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on difl'erent axis than the axis of the carrierv lever, and a spring interposed between said levers, pressing against one and reacting against the other of said levers.

6. A mechanism comprising a pivoted car rier lever, a floating lever pivoted to said. carrier lever'on an axis at one side of the axis of the carrier lever, anda spring secured to one or" said levers and acting against the other lever, said s 'iring being arranged to exert :lorce oppositely upon the two levers.

'l'. A mechanism comprising a pivoted carrier lever, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on an axis at one side of the axis of the carrier lever, and a spring se cured to one of said. levers and acting against the other lever, said spring being arranged to exert force on one .lever and to react on the other in a line extending at one side of the axis of the carrier lever.

carrier lever on different axis from that of said carrier lever, abutments for the two arms ol? the floating lever and for one arm oi the carrier lever, and a single spring carried by and exerting force between said levers and arranged to hold one arm of each lever against its respective abutment.

10. A. mechanism comprising a pivoted carrier lever, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a diflerent axis from that of said carrier lever, abutments for the two arms of the floating lever and for one arm of the carrier lever, and a single spring carried by and exerting force between said levers and arranged to hold one arm of each lever gainst its respective abutment, the sa d spring being so arranged, and the carrier lever so reacting against its abutment, as to permit yieldingly resisted movement of the floating lever about its own pivot.

11. it mechanism comprising a pivoted carrier lover, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a diilerent axis from that of said carrier lever, abutments for the two arms of the floating lever and for one arm plied through an arm of each or said levers,

and a spring arranged to apply-pressure and reaction between points onsaid levers tending to rotate each of them about its respective axis in such manner that said arms are pressed toward said reaction portions.

13. A. mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a carrier lever pivoted to said supporting structure, a floating lever pivoted on a dill'erent axis to said carrier lever, said supporting structure having reaction portions arranged to receive the pressure applied through an arm oi each of said levers, and a spring arranged to apply pressure and reaction between points on said levers tending to rotate each of them about its respec-- tive axis into pressure applying relation to said reaction portions, and pro. ure applying means adapted to bear on an arm oi said floating lever and move said lever in opposition to the pre ire exertion oi. aid spring. 145-. ii mechanism comp a supporting structure, a carrier lever pivoted to said supporting structure, a floating lever pivoted on a different axis to said carrier lever, said supporting structure having portions arranged to receive the pressure applied through an arm of each of said levers, and a spring arranged to apply pressure and reaction on said levers tending to rotate each of them about its respective axis into pressure applying relation to said supporting structure, and pressure applying means arranged to act on said floating lever in opposition. to the force exertion of said spring.

15. A mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a carrier lever pivoted to said structure, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier leverv on a different axis from that of the carrier lever and having two arms on reill) spectively different sides of its own axis, a spring engaged with both levers and reacting between them on a line passing outside of the axes of both levers, and a n'iovable reaction sustaining means for one of the arms of said. floating lever.

16. A mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a carrier lever pivoted to said structure, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a diflerent axis from that or the carrier lever and having two arms on respectively difl'orent sides of its own axis, a spring engaged with both levers and reacting between them, and movable reac tion sustaining means for both of the arms of said floating lever.

17. A mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a carrier lever pivoted to said structure, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a diflerent axis from that of the carrier lever and having two arms on respectively difl'erent sides of its own axis, a spring engaged with both levers at points on respectively dilierent sides of the axis of one of them and at one side of the axis of the other, and having its actions of pressure and reaction confined between said points, and movable reaction sustaining means for both oi" the arms of said floating lever, one of said reaction sustaining means being arranged and adapted to sustain the thrust of said spring when the other reaction sustaining means is actuated to impart movement to the floating lever.

18. In a wood wind instrument having a tubular body with a lateral hole, a carrier lever pivoted to said body and having a cover for said hole, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a difi'erent axis, a spring connected to one of said levers, reacting thereon and acting against the other, tending to turn both of them about their respective axes, the movement of both levers being limited by abutment against the instrument, and pressure applying means for moving one arm of the floating lever and thereby shifting the carrier lever.

19. In a wood wind instrument having tubular body with a lateral hole, a carrier lever pivoted to said body and having a cover for said hole, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a different axis, a spring connected to one of said levers and reacting against the other tending to turn both of them about their respective axes, the movement of both levers being limited by abutment against the instrument, means for moving one arm of said floating lever and there by causing said spring to move the carrier lever in one direction, and means for moving the other arm of said floating lever and thereby causing said spring to move the carrier in the opposite direction.

20. In a wood wind instrument having a tubular body with a lateral hole, a carrier lever pivoted to said body and having a cover for said hole, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a dilierent axis, a spring connected to one of said levers and rea tting against the other tending to turn both of them about their respective axes, the movement of both levers being limited by abutment against the instrument, imparting dispiacing movement to one arm of said floating lever and, while said arm remains so displaced, causing the other arm of the floating lever to be displaced.

21. In a wood wind instrument a pivoted carrier lever having a hole stopper, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a diii'erent axis than that of the latter, means for applying rotation-causing pressure independently in relatively opposite directions to said floating lever, and a spring reacting between said two levers.

In a wood wind instrument a tubular body having a lateral hole, a carrier lever pivoted to said body and having a stopper for said hole, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a difl'erent axis than that of the latter, a spring reacting between said two levers tending to rotate them about their respective pivots, and separate pressers arranged to apply force to the respective arms of said floating lever.

In a wood wind instrument a tubular body having a lateral hole, a. carrier lever having a cover for said hole pivotedto the instrument, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a dil'l'erent axis, a spring reacting between the two levers tending to raise one arm of each and depress the other, the instrument body having abutment surfaces arranged to limit such movement, and pressers for the respective arms of said floating lever.

24. In a Wood wind instrument a tubular body having a lateral hole, a carrier lever having a cover for said hole pivoted to the instrument, a. floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a ditl'erent axis, a spring reacting between the two levers tending to raise one arm. of each and depress the other, the instrument body having abutment surfaces arranged to limit such movement, and pressers for the respective arms of said floating lever, said spring being arranged and acting to move the carrier lever in one direction when one arm of the floating lever is displaced, the other arm being restrained from movement, and to move the carrier lever in theopposite direction when said other arm is moved and the first arm is held in its displaced position.

25. In a wood wind instrument having a tubular body with a lateral hole, a carrier lever pivoted to said body and carrying a cover for said hole, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a different axis, lifters for the arms of said floating lever interposed between said arms and the instrument body, and a spring interposed between the carrier lever and the floating lever exerting force on said levers in a manner to raise said cover and press one arm of the floating lever against its lifter, said lifter being arrested by the instrument body and limiting the rotationa-l movement of the floating lever; the other lifter serving as an abutment to cause the cover to be closed "when the first litter is raised.

26. In a Wood Wind instrument having a tubular body With a lateral hole, a lever pivoted to said body and carrying a cover for said hole, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier lever on a different axis, litters for the arms of said floating lever interposed hetween said arms and the instrument body, and a spring interposed between the carrier lever and the floating lever exerting force on said levers in a manner to raise said cover and press one arm of the floating lever againstits litter, said litter being arrested by the instruiuent body and limiting the rotational movement of the floating lever; the other litter serving as an abutment to cause the cover to be closed when the first litter is raised, and being depressible to cause opening of the cover While the first lifter remains in raised position,

27. In a Wood Wind instrument, the combination of a floating lever hole key mechae nism including a floating lever carrier having a hole cover and a second hole key coupled with the floating lever carrier to be closed simultaneously with the hole cover on said carrier.

28. In a wood Wind instrument having a plurality of holes, covers for each of said holes, a. lever pivoted on the instrument carrying one of said covers, a floa ting lever connected to said carrier lever, two linger keys operatively associated With said floating lever for controllingsaid carrier lever, and motion transmitting connection between said carrier lever and the other of the before named hole covers for clos the latter simultaneously with chasing oil the cover carried by said carrier lever.

29. In av Wood Wind instrument, a hole cover, means for closing said hole cover by relatively light pressure, and means for applying additional pressure for tightly closing such hole in combination with a floating lever mechanism for controlling said hole.

30. In a vood wind instrument, tivo lateral holes, covers for same, a floating lever, a floating lever carrier to which one of the hole covers is lined, and operating connection between the carrier and the other hole cover whereby both holes may be simultaneously closed.

In testimony whereof I have afllzred my signature.

ALLEN LOOMIS. 

